Dog Parks or other activity ideas?

calliecritturs

But my heart has always been with maximizing each dog's life.  And frankly, I've had such unique dogs it has probably cemented that. 

Just don't assume it's one thing or another -- It truly can be whatever YOU can do.    

I guess this is sort of what I've been trying to say about Circle when I say I want him to be happy. He had such a rough start in life that even now, five plus years later, it can instantly bring tears to my eyes.  Since day one with him, I've wanted him to be happy.  Or as you said, "maximize his life."  

But I also have to ask...have you really had such unique dogs or have your dogs had a unique person?  You see, over my years with Circle, I've come to believe each and every dog has the potential for much more than most of us have ever given them credit for.  What amazing creatures they are to be able to learn to operate and function in our world.  I'd suggest you've just recognized the potential your dogs have had and allowed them to be all they can be.

I know Circle has great potential, too, and now that we can no longer play agility, I have to figure out what will best suit him.  I'm really thinking some sort of "therapy" type of thing might be one of his keys.  As much as I loved agility, I'm not so certain it was his cup of tea only because...yes, he could jump, weave the poles, etc., but he really LOVED heading to the sidelines mid-run to visit the ring crew.  And I remember one of our first trials...mid-run he noticed the judge, rushed up to him and the judge folded his arms and ignored him, as he should have done.  Talk about a crestfallen dog!  You could see the confusion in his expression. He just loves people! I think what he loved about agility was all the people and dogs, going places, getting lots of attention from me and others. 

I think our animals are much like us.  They have their individual strengths and weaknesses.  We just have to figure out what they are.

I love the many ideas I've been given.  I'm definitely headed out to find a big box today since that is something I can start right here, right now.  With an eye towards therapy types of things, I started investigating CGC last night.  He can already do most of what is required for testing - just need to refine a couple of areas.  I think that certification would be helpful in introducing him to senior centers and such.  The tricks and links sent by griffinej5 are really interesting, too.   And again I'm thinking knowing some tricks might make him more valuable as a visiting dog since he isn't a cute and fuzzy little lap dog.  (Although he tries to be on occasion.) -  Susan

SusanB

I've come to believe each and every dog has the potential for much more than most of us have ever given them credit for.  What amazing creatures they are to be able to learn to operate and function in our world. 

Ahhh -- the quote box says YOU said that, but it's something *I* have said many, many times.  to feel as we do is most rare, Susan -- yes, I really get into training in order to help them "do" what they love (AND to help them fit into my life as well).

I don't think it's because I'm so great -- but I *DO* know that I've built a unique life.  I'm somewhat handicapped physically land have been since I was a child.  My best friend growing up was also handicapped, and I always wanted to teach handicapped children.  I wound up taking my first dog with me to school when the pest guy came to spray and it wound up with the dog teaching ME about pet therapy (and this was like 37 years ago before "pet therapy" was even a "thing";)

in the 15 years since I've been married to David we have had some truly unique dogs, and if it weren't for the fact that David and I are on the same page about the money we spend that wouldn't have happened.  We tend to do what we call "sick dog rescue" -- or "needy dog rescue" -- but it usually boils down to dogs who need **us** specifically -- often dogs who have given up hope, or whom life has just not been kind nor easy.

Therein is where you and I are "meeting in the middle" because you have a dog with a difficult history as well.  When I see a dog like that I don't think "we'll be nice to him and he'll have a good home".  Not at all.  When I see a dog like that I think "why has THIS dog come to our attention?  where are we being led?  what's our job here with THIS dog .... Is it a fit?  Does this dog need **us**???"

I don't usually take off on a spiritual bend but honestly that's at the crux of why I do what *I* do.  (More than my husband even.)

I don't mind at all being "a car".  As long as it's clear where this dog is supposed to go, and it's something we can commit to -- I'm in!  We never know when we go to Give Kids the World WHAT will happen THIS time. 

We go because we've committed to it.  And I leave the zoomey stuff to the Alpha of all Alphas.  We take great delight and joy in just volunteering for such a magnificent organization.  But when the Universe puts our dogs together with a child who really NEEDS **this dog** ... TODAY ... it's danged special.  We love going month after month ... but it's those special ones?  Wow -- they humble me.  And I never have to feel like a glory seeker -- cos we're just doing what we do every month. 

It doesn't have to be pet therapy -- you can have this attitude about ANY thing you do with Circle.  But if you have -- as your bottom line -- that concern that Circle be doing what HE loves (not just you -- there's a duality that must exist here) you will FIND those things.

I lost my Billy a year ago -- if you look at the almost 500 page AIHA or IMHA thread on this forum (and it goes back YEARS) this is a totally different way ONE dog can make a ginormous difference.  Billy loved pet therapy but it wasn't his highest and best.  He made it thru a disease that claims the life of far far too many dogs -- but he was majorly social and literally had to "connect" with every person he met.  Then I wrote about it -- and the dogs we were able to help while Billy was still with me has made a huge difference in others' lives.  And it's been a gift that has kept on even after I lost him.  But he lives on there because what I learned helping him, now helps others. 

But I can't tell you how many timesI had Billy out at some event -- and SOMEONE would walk up to us, he'd go all a-wag and the human would look up at me and say "THIS is BILLY!!!!  You don't even know ME, but I used to work for Dr. __________ when Billy used to come in!!!" and then they'd look down, he'd "connect" with them, and there goes some human going on and on TO MY DOG about how much fun they'd had drawing blood or some foolish thing and I'd think "Yep -- I'm a CAR!!!!  It was just what I was supposed to do *today* to get him here to meet this person cos obviously BOTH of them are enjoying this!!" 

Maybe I should just say "opportunity" is huge.  Some are made -- some are simply taken advantage of. 

But life is SO much richer because of them ...

 Love all these ideas! I'm going to throw out a few more...

- Puppy playdates. Invite friends with dogs over. Let the dogs run around, put out a kiddie pool or a sprinkler for them to cool off with, serve doggie treats, toss some toys around.

- Find a dog gym. There's one near me that does senior workouts, trainings on everything from agility to nose work, and more.

- Dog daycare. He'll get to spend time with other dogs in a managed environment with people whose job is to keep the peace. Plus, the dogs there are all socialized (if the daycare screens participants) so you don't have the same risks as dog parks.

- Training to be on camera.  Different thing to train and get him out and about, and maybe even earn him some gigs in ads. Special tricks he's learning will be really useful here!

-  Volunteer search and rescue. If you try nosework and he does really well at it, this may be a different angle for volunteering together. (Love the therapy dog idea, but some active dogs get more out of work like this.)

Hope that's helpful! :)

muttmama

(Love the therapy dog idea, but some active dogs get more out of work like this.)

There is real wisdom there.  Dogs that work well for ME and dogs that work well for others can be polar opposites.  That's not saying one is bad nor good -- that's saying there is a definite difference.  I look at what Karen does with Bugsy and think "wow -- better her than me!" -- I'd be sunk because I'm somewhat disabled myself so an overly active dog just isn't a starter for me. 

But at the same time -- other people would go bonkers if they didn't have high energy activities because they are, at heart, active people.

Sly Stone said it like 40+ years ago -- "Different strokes for Different folks!" LOL

calliecritturs

muttmama

(Love the therapy dog idea, but some active dogs get more out of work like this.)

 

There is real wisdom there.  Dogs that work well for ME and dogs that work well for others can be polar opposites.  That's not saying one is bad nor good -- that's saying there is a definite difference.  I look at what Karen does with Bugsy and think "wow -- better her than me!" -- I'd be sunk because I'm somewhat disabled myself so an overly active dog just isn't a starter for me. 

But at the same time -- other people would go bonkers if they didn't have high energy activities because they are, at heart, active people.

Sly Stone said it like 40+ years ago -- "Different strokes for Different folks!" LOL

Definitely, some dogs are not suited to therapy.  Some are not suited to therapy in certain environments. I have friends who could never belief until they saw video that Luke does Flyball. They called him the Quaalude dog. When he was around those people, he was always so calm and quiet. Now of course that he is swimming obsessed, he's less calm and quiet when we're with those people. The reason we do therapy at a nursing home is because it's across the street from us, and we can't go to the local schools because of a goofy arrangement. Luke would be just as well off doing therapy in a school, or otherwise with kids. If I were to ever get Callie certified, I'd never take her around anybody medically fragile. Gentle is just not her thing.

griffinej5

Luke would be just as well off doing therapy in a school, or otherwise with kids. If I were to ever get Callie certified, I'd never take her around anybody medically fragile. Gentle is just not her thing.

Another really good thot here -- the bottom line we're talking about is things the DOG would enjoy not just the people.  In all the dogs I've done pet therapy with each one has had some particular niche they liked the *most* -- and usually not the same thing as another dog.  They might enjoy a LOT of varieties of pet therapy like Jen is saying, and be fine with all of them.  On the other paw, Billy HATED Give Kids the World - it was too unstructured for him, sometimes you get mobbed by a zillion people and he didn't enjoy that.  But a more structured environment that was more dialed back like a home for developmentally disabled kids or a nursing home?  He LOVED it. 

A lot of what has been mentioned all the way to what the OP said is "know your dog!"